Cancer victims hair loss services to expand

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action funding will allow the charity to recruit and train new volunteers to offer specialist advice to cancer patients suffering from hair loss

Oct 2010

Cancer patients facing the prospect of hair loss will benefit from three new services across Wales.

Breast Cancer Care Cymru has received a £10,000 funding boost to set up extra HeadStrong services in North and South Wales.

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action funding will allow the charity to recruit and train new volunteers to offer specialist advice to cancer patients suffering from hair loss.

Wales’ first HeadStrong service was officially launched in Cardiff last month. New services will be available at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor Hospital before the end of the year. And Breast Cancer Care Cymru is also planning to open a centre in Swansea at the start of 2011.

The HeadStrong service provides practical advice and emotional support for anyone experiencing hair loss as a result of cancer treatment.

Bev Hampson, the volunteer manager at Breast Cancer Care Cymru, said: “We have already recruited nine new volunteers this year thanks to the funding from WCVA with more recruitment planned for the rest of the year.

“These volunteers are essential to our new Welsh HeadStrong services, as well as our fundraising work.

“This service is available for anyone, wherever their cancer, who has lost or is concerned about losing their hair due to their cancer treatment.

“At a private appointment, our trained volunteers will talk through how to look after your scalp before, during and after treatment.

“The volunteer will also show individuals how to make the most of alternatives to wigs using scarves, hats and other headwear.

“The funding has also enabled us to provide in-depth training for our HeadStrong volunteers. We couldn’t provide our HeadStrong services without these volunteers, who enable us to provide this personal, one to one, practical support in a sustainable and cost-effective way.”

Graham Benfield, chief executive of the WCVA, said: “The Volunteering in Wales Fund helps to recruit and train over 2,000 new volunteers each year that provide around 200,000 hours of voluntary work.

“This is crucial in ensuring that projects like this are able to provide such valuable services, and would otherwise cost around £3m.”

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